Portable sensing module for a fitness equipment and a data transmission process for using the portable sensing module

ABSTRACT

A portable sensing module for a fitness equipment includes a sensing unit, a center control unit, a storage unit, a wireless transceiver and a connecting unit and is capable of collecting static data of the fitness equipment and dynamic data indicating the status of the user. The sensing module connects the fitness equipment to follower equipments in a wire or wireless manner, thus expanding the function of the fitness equipments. A data transmission process includes: using the sensing unit to detect the status of the fitness equipment; transmitting the data to the center control unit and converting it into computable data, then computing; comparing the data with the data sheets stored in the storage unit and then encoding it into codes usable by the follower equipments; packaging the codes into usable information; and using the connecting unit and the wireless transceiver to transmit the data to the follower equipments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable sensing module, and more particularly to a portable sensing module for a fitness equipment and a data transmission process for using the portable sensing module.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The existing fitness equipments generally include the simple fitness equipment without control panel and the fitness equipment which is provided with an electronic control panel. The user using the fitness equipment without a control panel doesn't know the relative data after doing work out, therefore, has to learn to know by experience whether the amount of work out is enough. The fitness equipment with an electronic control panel is capable of showing relative work-out data but is still unable to be used in combination with other follower equipments, such as the 3C products and smart phone, therefore, the function of the existing fitness equipment with an electronic control panel is still limited.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a portable sensing module for a fitness equipment and a data transmission process for using the same, which is capable of collecting the static data of the fitness equipment and the dynamic data indicating the status of the user. With the sensing module, the fitness equipment can be connected with follower equipments, such as a display or a household audio and video equipment or handheld 3C equipment in a wire or wireless manner, thus expanding the function of the fitness equipment to better meet the user's demand.

To achieve the above objective, a portable sensing module for a fitness equipment in accordance with the present invention comprises: a sensing unit, a center control unit, a storage unit, a wireless transceiver and a connecting unit. The sensing unit is a contact or non-contact sensor connected to the center control unit, the center control unit is connected to the storage unit, the wireless transceiver and the connecting unit, the wireless transceiver and the connecting unit are used to connect follower equipments which include a display or household audio and video equipment or handheld 3C equipment. The center control unit is a MCU (microprocessor control unit), the storage unit is used to store relative data sheets, including various electronic signals and formats corresponding to data detected by the sensing unit, and product code for the follower equipments, the household audio and video equipment or handheld 3C equipment, the wireless transceiver is an antenna for connecting the follower equipments in a wireless manner, and the connecting unit is an input and output port for connection of the follower equipments via wire.

A data transmission process for using the portable sensing module comprises the following steps:

using the sensing unit to detect the status of the fitness equipment, including the dynamic data indicating the status of the user, and the static data of the fitness equipment;

transmitting the data to the center control unit and converting it into computable data, then computing;

comparing the data obtained from previous step with the data sheets stored in the storage unit and then encoding it into codes transmittable or usable by the follower equipments;

packaging the codes into data useable by the follower equipments; and

using the connecting unit and the wireless transceiver to transmit the data to the follower equipments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows that a portable sensing module in accordance with the present invention and the fitness equipments with and without a control panel;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the portable sensing module in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing that the sensing module of the present invention is assembled to a fitness equipment;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a data transmission process for using the sensing module in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable sensing module 10 in accordance with the present invention is directly plugged in a fitness equipment 20. The fitness equipment 20 has a power cable 22 for connecting to a power source and can be provided with or without a control panel 21.

The sensing module 10, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a sensing unit 11, a center control unit 12, a storage unit 13, a wireless transceiver 14 and a connecting unit 15. The sensing unit 11 can be a contact or non-contact sensor. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sensing unit 11 includes a contact roller 110 pivoted to a mounting member 111 which is formed with an elongated adjustment hole 112. The fitness equipment 20 is provided on a support member 24 of a base 23 with a fixing hole 240. A bolt 113 is inserted through the adjustment hole 112 and the fixing hole 240 and screwed with a nut 114, so that the roller 110 comes into contact with the fitness equipment 20 and will drive a rotary shaft 25 to rotate when a user runs on the fitness equipment. The roller 110 is built-in with a counter for counting rotation speed or the number of revolutions that the roller 110 rotates. The sensing unit 11 can also be non-contact device, such as grating sensor, or laser sensor or wave sensor, to detect the state of the respective components of the fitness equipment 20 when the user is working out on it, thus creating dynamic data, or, can be a level sensor or an initial sensor to create static data by detecting the level or slope or height of the fitness equipment 20.

The sensing module 10 is connected to the center control unit 12 via the sensing unit 11. Meanwhile, the center control unit 12 is connected to the storage unit 13, the wireless transceiver 14 and the connecting unit 15. The wireless transceiver 14 and the connecting unit 15 are used to connect follower equipments, such as the network 30 and the display 40, as shown in FIG. 2. The display 40 can be an ordinary display or household audio and video equipment or handheld 3C equipment. The center control unit 12 is a MCU (microprocessor control unit). The storage unit 13 is used to store relative data sheets, including various electronic signals and formats corresponding to the data detected by the sensing unit 11, and the product code for the follower equipments, the household audio and video equipment or handheld 3C equipment. The wireless transceiver 14 is an antenna for connecting the follower equipment in a wireless manner. The connecting unit 15 is an I/O input and output port for connection of follower equipments via cable. The display 40 can be installed with suitable APP according to the user's demand.

Referring then to FIG. 5, a data transmission process 50 in accordance with the present invention comprises the following steps:

sensing 51: using the sensing unit 11 to detect the status of the fitness equipment 20, including the dynamic data indicating the status of the user, and the static data of the fitness equipment;

code converting 52: transmitting the data to the center control unit 12 and converting it into computable data, then computing;

encoding 53: comparing data obtained from previous step with data sheets stored in the storage unit 13 and then encoding it into codes transmittable or usable by follower equipments;

packaging 54: packaging the code into data useable by the follower equipments; and

transmitting 55: using the connecting unit and the wireless transceiver to transmit the data to the follower equipments, so that the follower equipments can be directly plugged in the fitness equipment to expand the function of the fitness equipment.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable sensing module for a fitness equipment, comprising: a sensing unit, a center control unit, a storage unit, a wireless transceiver and a connecting unit; wherein the sensing unit is a contact or non-contact sensor connected to the center control unit, the center control unit is connected to the storage unit, the wireless transceiver and the connecting unit, the wireless transceiver and the connecting unit are used to connect follower equipments which include a display or household audio and video equipment or handheld 3C equipment; the center control unit is a MCU, the storage unit is used to store relative data sheets, including various electronic signals and formats corresponding to data detected by the sensing unit, and product code for the follower equipments, the household audio and video equipment or handheld 3C equipment, the wireless transceiver is an antenna for connecting the follower equipments in a wireless manner, and the connecting unit is an input and output port for connection of the follower equipments via wire.
 2. The portable sensing module for the fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing unit includes a contact roller pivoted to a mounting member which is formed with an elongated adjustment hole, the fitness equipment is provided on a support member of a base with a fixing hole, a bolt is inserted through the adjustment hole and the fixing hole and screwed with a nut, so that the roller comes into contact with the fitness equipment and will drive a rotary shaft to rotate when a user runs on the fitness equipment, the roller is built-in with a counter for counting rotation speed of the roller.
 3. The portable sensing module for the fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is a contact revolution counter, or a non-contact counter which includes grating sensor, or laser sensor or wave sensor, used to create dynamic data by detecting the state of the fitness equipment when the user is working out on it, or the sensing unit is a level sensor or an initial sensor used to create static data by detecting the level or slope or height of the fitness equipment.
 4. A data transmission process for using the portable sensing module as claimed in claim 1 comprising the following steps: using the sensing unit to detect the status of the fitness equipment, including the dynamic data indicating the status of the user, and the static data of the fitness equipment; transmitting the data to the center control unit and converting it into computable data, then computing; comparing the data obtained from previous step with the data sheets stored in the storage unit and then encoding it into codes transmittable or usable by the follower equipments; packaging the codes into data useable by the follower equipments; and using the connecting unit and the wireless transceiver to transmit the data to the follower equipments. 